A single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine reduces the risk of hospitalization from Covid-19 by more than 80% in people over 80, new data from Public Health England (PHE) shows.
The effect was observed three to four weeks after vaccination.
People over the age of 70 were also found to have protection against symptomatic diseases up to 61% from the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and up to 73% from the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine.
“This adds to the growing evidence showing that the vaccines work to reduce infections and save lives,” said Dr. Mary Ramsay, head of immunization at PHE, in a press release.
At a press conference on Monday, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock praised the real-world data, stressing that the UK’s daily death rate is declining “much faster” than during the first peak, and “declining faster over the years. 80, who only got the injection in the 80s. “
The UK has given Covid-19 injections to more than 20 million people, with campaigns first targeting the over-80s most vulnerable to the disease.
The new data supports the country’s decision to use both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines at a time when other countries in Europe were showing concern about the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in older people.
“These findings are particularly welcome news because of the age range of the participants who were all 70 and older,” said Deborah Dunn-Walters, Chair of the British Society for Immunology COVID-19 and Immunology Taskforce, and Professor of Immunology at the University of Surrey. .
“Previous clinical studies for both vaccines did not involve many people in this age group. This is important because as we age our immune systems do not function as well as they did when we were younger, which means that older people sometimes produce less immune responses to vaccination. , “she said.
“The fact that vaccination is effective in significantly reducing symptomatic cases, hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19 in this older age group is really positive news,” added Dunn-Walters.
“While more research is needed, this study also provides further reassurance around the UK’s decision to offer the two doses of the vaccine 12 weeks apart.”
But Ramsay stressed the need for people to remain vigilant with measures such as social distancing and hand washing.
“It is important to remember that protection is not complete and we do not yet know how much these vaccines reduce the risk of you passing Covid-19 to others,” she said.
Data released last week by PHE from studies of health professionals showed that one dose of the vaccine prevented people from contracting asymptomatic Covid-19 by at least 70%, suggesting the vaccines could help reduce the spread of infection , but more data is needed. .
The UK is increasing the number of second doses administered, with just over 800,000 now vaccinated with both injections.